Cricket with Dalchand Bissoon

Richie Benaud, the former Australia cricket captain, journalist and iconic commentator, died last Friday, in Sydney, Australia. He was 84.

Benaud made his test debut for Australia in January 1952 against the West Indies at Sydney and played his last test against South Africa also at Sydney in February 1964.

He played in 63 tests for his country from 1952 to 1964, scoring 2,201 runs with three centuries and took 248 test wickets.

He was the first player to score 2,000 test runs and take 200 test wickets. As an allrounder and an innovative captain, he led Australia on 28 occasions.

West Indies Cricket Board paid tribute to the passing of the Australian icon. “On behalf of the directors, management and staff of the WICB, let me share our deepest condolences on the passing of Australian legend Richie Benaud to his family and our colleagues at Cricket Australia,” said WICB President Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron.

A small, private, family gathering will be held this week to bid farewell to Richie, instead of a state funeral which was declined by his family.